(n.) a formal split with a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions

therapeutic

(adj.) having the power to heal or cure; beneficial

virtuoso

(n.) a brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique; (adj.) masterly or brilliant

aegis

(n.) protection; patronage; sponsorship

apprise

(v.) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice

bibulous

(adj.) fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent

claque

(n.) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat

deracinate

(v.) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of

eleemosynary

(adj.) charitable; dependent upon or supported by charity; derived from or provided by charity

indigenous

(adj.) originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent

lachrymose

(adj.) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious

lexicon

(n.) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium

melee

(n.) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling.

microcosm

(n.) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system.

minuscule

(adj.) very small, tiny; (n.) a lowercase letter

obfuscate

(v.) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

paternalism

(n.) the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children

polarize

(v.) to cause or concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern.

purview

(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute

sanguine

(adj.) having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

solecism

(n.) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake

vassal

(n.) a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant; (adj.) subservient

verisimilitude

(n.) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable

adjunct

(n.) something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic. (adj.) added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity

bellwether

(n.) the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends.

caterwaul

(v.) to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel; (n.) a harsh or noisy cry; a racket

chimerical

(adj.) absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible

effete

(adj.) lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out of date

fait accompli

(n.) an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action

hidebound

(adj.) narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative

hierarchy

(n.) any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc.

liturgy

(n.) a religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship

mirage

(n.) something illusory, without substance, or without a basis in reality; an illusion

morass

(n.) a patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand

noisome

(adj.) offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious

oblivious

(adj.) forgetful; unaware

poltroon

(n.) a base coward

proselyte

(n.) a convert; a disciple

quasi

(adj.) resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely